Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills returns with an all-new swoon-fest of a novel about what happens when you take a chance on love.Amazon Top 11 Bestseller; #1 SportsWanted: one hot guy with rock-hard abs and a big stick.Broke and desperate, Sugar Ryan has no use for arrogant, bad-boy athletes…until she’s forced to bargain with the cockiest of them all.If only he knew she … with the cockiest of them all.
If only he knew she was alive.
Her mission? Get on this hockey player’s radar any way possible.
Zack Morgan is the king of the ice and the bedroom, but nothing prepares him for the mystery girl who shows up everywhere he does–frat parties, his favorite bar, and finally his front door with an offer he can’t refuse. The only rule in her boyfriend bargain: no falling in love.
But after one (um, two) smoking-hot hookups, he’s done with pretending and vows to make their fake relationship real. Too bad she can’t trust a player with a reputation for breaking hearts.
Will this hockey star score his forever girl, or will this boyfriend bargain end in heartbreak?
“Who can turn down a bad boy hockey star with a big . . . stick? Zack is hot hot hot, and Sugar is the perfect blend of sweet and sassy! Their chemistry sizzles in Boyfriend Bargain!” ~Melanie Harlow, USA Today bestselling author
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Boyfriend Bargain was a good book, but not one of my favorites from Ilsa Madden-Mills. It’s a complete stand-alone, but I would like to see some of the secondary characters getting their own books. The characters acted as one would expect for their age, but I felt like Sugar was sometimes a different person from the one we knew, like she had 2 different personalities. As I was reading the book, I realized that Sugar’s name was a very weird choice for a name and it was more fitting for a strip club, rather than a name you give to your child (Sorry Sugars of the world). Z’s character had a lot of depth and I liked how he seemed so perfect at first, but we found out that he was not the person everyone thought he was. No one would have guessed that he has panic attacks for example or that the manwhore reputation he has is not completely true. For me, the book had some good moments and some not so good, but the good were more than the bad and that’s why I am giving a good rating to the book.
Maybe it’s due to the fact that I’m getting older and am now well into my thirties that I find myself more often than not straying from the New Adult genre.
I think I’m just becoming a bit weirded out that the main characters are usually almost young enough to almost be my child LOL!
BUT I could never resist when it comes to this author because her books never fail to capture my attention from the very beginning.
She’s definitely one of my top 3 one-click authors for new adult novels, especially if it’s sports related.
Her stories are always entertaining with a fun and intriguing cast of characters who usually end up with their own interconnecting novels.
There’s just always something to look forward to and Boyfriend Bargain was no different!
Filled to the brim with scorching hot chemistry, this was a delicious story that kept a smile on my face as much as it inspired feelings of empathy, sadness and understanding.
I love Ilsa Madden-Mills sports romances. No one does it quite like her, and she always manages to immerse the reader into the world. Boyfriend Bargain was just that- a wonderful escape. One involving a hot athlete and a hard-working, sweet girl.
Zack Morgan is the resident big man on campus. He’s a hockey superstar and everyone’s got his name on their lips. Zack is cocky, but not overly so. He’s got his own demons to fight, his own insecurities, and has a heart of gold.
Sugar Ryan is a hard worker. She’s had no choice to fight her way through college by the skin of her teeth. She’s her own cheerleader, and is focused on getting into law school. Sugar Ryan has a plan. What involves a fake relationship with the popular Zack in order to impress a dean, quickly turns into so much more than what either character could imagine. Sugar has had her heart broken before and is unsure but Zack knows that what they have is special. And he’s not letting her go without a fight.
The Boyfriend Bargain quickly sucked me in and left me feeling good. I was rooting for both of them to get their well deserved happily ever after. If you love smoking hot sports romances just know that Ilsa will never lead you wrong.
4 stars
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
A charming and emotional sports romance, Boyfriend Bargain, follows a fake boyfriend trope that has witty banter, a captivating plot, and searing chemistry.
Popularity and good looks don’t always reflect a happy person. On the outside, Zack had everything a college athlete could want. He was excelling at school and in sports, but what others didn’t see was that he was being eaten alive by guilt. Tragedy had struck his life years before and Zack carries that with him. He has anxiety and is a mess inside. He puts on a facade for the outside world, except now his anxiety is so bad he can’t control it. It starts to draw attention to him and he can’t have that. Not with the NHL watching his every move.
Sugar has one goal in mind, to get into the same law school her father attended. The same father that left her as a baby to live his life with his other family. Shes is determined to prove she is enough and that she is worthy of him and his family. After getting wait-listed, she decides that Zack is her ticket in. There’s only one problem, Zack doesn’t even know she exists.
Sugar is almost stalkerish in her pursuit to get Zack to play her fake boyfriend. She started following him around and showing up at all his regular hang out spots. Once they finally meet, it is a whirlwind of events. They meet and within minutes they are having bathroom sex. Then, she runs out. There wasn’t supposed to be any feelings involved, but we all know they both let their hearts do the talking. But Zack hides a secret that might break the connection they are starting to build. He knows the moment Sugar finds out, he might lose her forever and that just can’t be.
Will their new found love handle the secrets and the pressure?
Ilsa Madden-Mills is one of my favorite authors, with that said, this was not one of my favorite books by her. The heroine was a big part of why I didn’t fully immerse myself in this story. That is purely personal and nothing to do with the author’s writing. I will continue to look forward to her books. I am so excited to see what she writes next!
So much more than what I was expecting. Definitely on my Best of 2019 list.
I already knew that Ilsa Madden-Mills knew how to rock my world with her sports romances (hello I Dare You and I Bet You), but I was still not prepared for how AHMAZING Sugar and Zach are. The way that his anxiety, guilt, and grief are expressed is phenomenally gripping and sensitive, as is the way that Sugar’s abandonment and trust issues are addressed. The chemistry between them is utterly compelling and combustible. What makes it even better is that while their connection could be construed as instalusty at first, their attraction is really bolstered with deep and real emotions that I felt in my soul. I love that the book is longer and that their road to HEA was a journey and I was attached to them from the first word to the last and wanted more. I don’t think I’ve ever read a sports romance that is gripping and compelling and emotionally raw as Boyfriend Bargain. I can’t wait for Eric’s story and I hope we get one for Reece as well. I was already a fan of Ilsa Madden-Mills, but this has officially made her a must read/autobuy author for me. 5 out of 5 wine glasses.
I absolutely adored every single thing about this book. From Zack and Sugar and those closest to them to the story that they had to tell. The direction that their tale took had its share of surprises, and while there were moments throughout that brought a smile to my face and even had me laughing a number of times, there were also times where I could feel my heart beating faster when things got intense. These two clearly had their respective sets of emotional baggage to contend with and while it would be easy to compare and say one had heavier stuff to deal with than the other, it was as if being in each other’s lives became the turning point that provided them with a clearer perspective in order to truly move forward. Inasmuch as I loved Zack and Sugar’s story, I’ve got each of my fingers and toes crossed that we haven’t seen the last of Zack’s brother and all of their noteworthy friends. My curiosity’s been piqued and now I’m itching to not only get to know them better but for every single one of them to get their own happy endings. I’m demanding and desperate! Boyfriend Bargain is a five-plus-starred must-read.
Omg!! Let me tell you, I love Sugar and Z. Okay first Boyfriend Bargain was an amazing read. I laughed and cried and felt the pain they both went through. Just as everything is going perfect something happens… Sugar and Z have chemistry but both are scared to get hurt. You have Sugar who was dating a singer and he cheated on her with other woman, and she vowed herself to not get hurt again. Then you have Z who has a past that haunts him and he thinks he cant get through it. Did I mention he is a hockey player hot one also!! lol.. Lets just say the both need one an another and at the end we get what we all were longing for… I cant wait to read Ilsa next book!! I am so ready!!
Oh btw I love Eric, I hope he gets his story. 🙂
Wow!! Just wow!! I never know jumping into a sports romance if it’s going to be fluffy or deep. But when it’s an Ilsa Madden-Mills Book, you know it’ll be jammed packed with heart, chemistry, and sexy as sin. Sugar and Z’s story captured my heart. This emotional ride will leave you wanting so much more. Their chemistry lights up the pages!!
Zack is a Nordic-god hockey player that keeps reliving his guilt over the past time and time again. He finally finds some peace when he meets Sugar. His heart finally starts beating again. She’s everything his heart’s been calling for. But of course, she can’t solve all his problems. There’s so much fantasticness to this story. I’m completely HOOKED!!
Sugar is just as complex as Zack. These characters are layered like flowers. Each petal exposes new breath, new emotions, new struggles. Ultimately, they make each other better. And their HEA, total swoon fest!! So if you’re a lover of college sports romances, Boyfriend Bargain is a MUST READ. If you’re a lover of romances with sparkly feels, swoony boys and fierce chicks, this is a MUST READ!! Happy reading
Sugar Ryan hasn’t had a terrific life. Actually, it’s kinda sucked. She’s the love child of an illicit affair where her father always hid her and her mother from “his real family.” When her mother died, instead of living with her father she moves from Alabama to live with her mother’s best friend. Sugar wants to prove herself to her father and his “real family” by attending her father’s alma mater–Vanderbilt University School of Law. Only she’s waitlisted. She knows that the admissions director is an avid hockey fan especially Zach Morgan, who is being courted by a NHL team in Nashville. If she can talk Morgan into pretending to be her boyfriend for the waitlist mixer and woo the director, Sugar will be in.
Surprisingly, the hockey God agrees to all of Sugar’s requests. He’s tired of all the puck bunnies and hanger-on constantly harassing him. The only rule Sugar is adamant about is “Do not fall in love.” Too bad Z was already well on his way there before they made the deal. There’s something special about Sugar. She doesn’t put up with his ego and calls him on his crap. The more he’s with her the more he doesn’t want to let her go. Plus, she calms his anxiety and his panic attacks that keep popping up. She grounds him. She thinks all of it pretend. He’s never pretended with her. How will she react when she finds out his feelings are real? When tragedy strikes he does what he can to be with her even if it means revealing his true feelings for her.
What happens when Sugar ends their deal?
How will Z cope?
Will Sugar get into Vanderbilt without Z’s help?
It took me a minute to get going. But once I got into the groove, I really enjoyed it. Sugar had me right in the beginning with her Dunder Mifflin sweatshirt. Love!! Z and Sugar have some rough times going on, they’re both fighting some serious demons. They also have some serious hot and sexy times going on. Whew those two! I hope we get books on some of the other secondary characters, they seemed like they would be fun to read.
College age jock romance – Ilsa Madden-Mills is one of my go to authors. Boyfriend Bargain is a slightly different take from some of her more recent books, little bit more serious with a little more angst, but it’s so worth it!.
Z and Sugar are both unique and entertaining characters that I found myself rooting for. Both had baggage and seemed to make life a little brighter for the other. One of the things I loved about Sugar was that even at 21, she didn’t question her worth or how she deserved to be treated. Her past colored some of her responses to Z, but it almost seemed like he needed someone to call him on his behavior.
Zach (Z) is not the typical college jock hero. He’s a bit tortured and struggles a little bit with how to deal with everything around him. I loved how he didn’t know what to make of Sugar and appreciated the emotional growth he experienced.
Boyfriend Bargain also has an excellent secondary cast. From Sugar’s friends, to Z’s brother and roommate they not only help our main characters in their struggles, but they are all interesting on their own. I hope we see more of them in future books. I am especially curious about Z’s younger brother, Reece.
4.5 Stars
If you’re like me and love a sports romance, particularly one featuring hockey players, The Boyfriend Bargain is the book for you!
Zack and Sugar’s story is passionate, steamy and emotional romance.
Zack otherwise known as ‘Z’ is a successful hockey player. But there’s more to this layered and complex character than meets the eye. He may be a cocky, alpha with a reputation as a ladies man, but he’s haunted by demons from his past.
I adored Sugar, she’s my kind of heroine. She’s incredibly endearing and relatable. She’s quirky, intelligent, sweet and strong and incredibly hard working. She hasn’t had an easy life with her fair share of heart break and she’s had to work twice as hard for every little thing she has achieved.
What begins as a fake relationship becomes so much more as this unlikely duo for a relationship. The chemistry they share is intense, and their banter is fun, flirty and incredibly witty.
I thoroughly enjoyed this title and look forward to Ilsa’s next release.
I couldn’t get enough of this book! It was everything I wanted and so much more. Isla Madden-Mills never fails to break the mold with her novels, and this one was no exception.
The idea or reason behind the initial introduction between Zack and Sugar was unorthodox but it paved the way for potential and the intense chemistry between the two. They were like moths to a flame and there was no denying that these two couldn’t get away from each other regardless of Sugar and her deep demons.
If your looking for an exciting read with angst, a crazy and diluted ex and a sexy hockey star, then you have a great option in this phenomenal read.
5 STARS
Oh emmm gee! I absolutely loved this book! Sugar and Z’s story gave me all the feels! I loved their chemistry and banter! They may have started out as pretend but their feelings for each other made that seem like a joke. I definitely recommend this hot and sweet sports romance!
Sugar Ryan needs hockey god Zack Morgan help into getting into her dream law school. Only problem is they don’t know each other, yet she is going to work hard to become his fake girlfriend. While Zack life seems perfect, he is hiding so many secrets that are eating at him. Being a fake boyfriend to Sugar seems like a great idea to help him focus on hockey and school. Rule one don’t fall in love, problem is Z likes to break rules.
Madden-Mills gave me all the feels in this novel. It has personal drama, funny moments, sports loving, and steamy sex scenes.
Reviewed by: Alex L.
I literally loved EVERYTHING about this book!! I loved Z and Sugar so much. I particularly loved Z’s personal arc and I love that he is drafted by my favorite hockey team. Z really has so much going on with his character and I loved that there was some mental health being brought to light. Z is such a complex character and he is such a genuinely good person. Sugar is so cute and awkward and I just adore her. I love that she is so driven to do well and get what she wants out of life. These two have fantastic chemistry and bring so much heat to the page! They gave me the feels a lot more than I had even expected. Their story as a couple and their own personal storylines were so dang good. One of my favorite Ilsa books!!!
Sugar has a plan, a plan that just may work in getting her actually into the law school she wants and not just the wait list. It’s simple, ask Zack, a Viking god (think Thor) of the hockey world, to be her fake boyfriend in order to impress the college. The only thing is… Sugar would actually have to talk to him and not just stalk him. When she finally does get a chance and talks to him, she finds out that there is something about Zack that makes her mind turn to mush and her plans go a little haywire. Zack doesn’t want to pretend to be her boyfriend, he just wants to be her boyfriend. Can Sugar let herself trust Zack enough to not hurt her and take that chance? What happens when Zack’s past continues to haunt him, will he mess up his chance with the NHL, or worse with Sugar?
A super hot and steamy read! Ilsa Madden-Mills has a way of pulling you into a story, this sucked me in from the first page and didn’t let go until the last word. Everything about this was amazing; the drama, the hockey, the naughty bits were freaking on fire. I can’t wait to see what comes next. I give this 5 stars.
This book, OMG. THIS BOOK!!! Do not read reviews. Buy Boyfriend Bargain NOW!!! Ilsa Madden-Mills latest has completely taken over as my favorite book she’s written, and I can not stress enough how much you need to read this book.
Q: All it would take is one indication from her, a crook of her finger, a longing in her eye that she wants me, goddamn just anything and I would slay anyone in my path to get to her. But she doesn’t give it to me.
Q: She has a wall around her, one I want to take a sledgehammer to.
Ilsa Madden-Mills has long been a favorite author of mine and I never let a release pass me up that I don’t participate in as a blogger. It’s the least I can do as a die-hard fan of the author. But she’s not one that you will ever worry about who has readers padding reviews. If you’ve read anything she’s written, you already know this. But if you’ve yet to read a book by Ilsa—a serious travesty if you are a romance junkie and you should totally be ashamed!—Boyfriend Bargain is one of the best books you’ll read this month… and for me, it’s definitely a favorite read of the year so far. Since I average 7 to 10 books a week between ARCs and Beta Reading, I don’t say that lightly. With all honesty, I have never read a book by Ilsa Madden-Mills that I would rate as less than 5 stars, and I have read them all
Q:The thing is, you can’t fix a guy with guilt so deep it cuts like a knife.
Q: No matter what I do to make myself better, there’s a flaw so cavernous, so deep in the recesses of my mind that nothing will ever be able to repair it.
Boyfriend Bargain is a dual POV, sports/fake romance unlike any other. This book is so much more than I expected. It’s exceptionally entertaining and sucked me in from the get-go. I was so entirely entranced in the story that I read it in one sitting and it’s not a small book… but for real, no food, no breaks… one sitting! While I expect Ilsa to write seXXXy romance, Zack was an inferno for reals and his dirty talking got me seriously hot and bothered! Full Disclosure: do not read this book without your spouse on standby or your batteries charged ladies! A cold shower is not going to cut it!!!!!!! And while I never thought Dirty English would lose its rank as my favorite Ilsa book, Boyfriend Bargain totally did for me. This romance has it all: a well-developed and executed plot, the sweet and swoon-worthy moments I crave, enough angst to make your heart squeeze, some seriously witty banter, a sexy, dirty talking, broken hero! All the makings for a great read right?! Both characters were so broken, in their own ways and you can’t help but ache for them and fall helplessly into a quest for their HEA! Zack’s secrets and the wall surrounding Sugar steered an angst and eventual breakup which left me completely broken and that’s no joke. I can’t imagine someone not loving them the way I did.
Q: His response is instant, an accelerant to a flame, his lips taking control, his tongue an invader as we go nuclear in a millisecond.
Q: Zack Morgan is an inferno that will burn me up.
So, I will say it again, BUY. BOYFRIEND. BARGAIN. NOW!!! Stop reading reviews and get to One-Clicking… I promise you won’t be disappointed with this book!!!! I couldn’t give this book less than five-stars on any scale… Hell, I would give it more if it was remotely possible.
Quotes:
He’s hot as hell and it slams into you when you look at him, like a great wind in a hurricane.
He’s the king of the ice, and I’m just… no one. I come from nothing. I have nothing, literally.
if people discover I have real issues with anxiety, I’m done in the NHL, all my dreams destroyed.
He’s like dynamite, and I never know what’s going to set him off.
…There’s an earthy, dominant warrior quality to him, one that calls to the softness in me.
I just thought if there were any truth to him wanting me for me, he would have tried harder to convince me. He let me go, and I guess that tells me everything.
4.5 “Dear Future Boyfriend” stars!
Sugar wants to get into law school and prove herself. She’ll do just about anything to make her dreams come true including finding a fake boyfriend. Enter Zack. The hottest hockey player on and off the rink, he’s her top choice to fill the role, and in return Sugar may be able to help him out too.
I love books with fake relationships and Boyfriend Bargain delivers an addictive, entertaining, unique take on the trope. It’s a college sports romance about Sugar and Z, two misunderstood characters who are far from perfect but are perfect for each other, and I loved seeing their love story unfold. It’s sweet, swoony, sexy, and witty, and I couldn’t put it down.
From their first interaction, Sugar and Z are wildly attracted to each other. I mean, talk about sizzling sexual tension and amazing chemistry that is off the charts. This is a steamy book from the get go but it just gets hotter the more time Sugar and Z spend together. There is no restraint and they cannot keep their hands off of each other which leads to insane amounts of smoking hot sexy times.
Their connection is so much more than just physical, and they bond on a deeper level. I loved watching Sugar and Z completely fall for each other. The trust and love that grow between them is beautiful. Even though they fight what is happening between them their fake relationship quickly changes when emotions get involved. They just have to take a chance if they want to be together for real.
“A door has opened, Sugar. Now you gotta walk through it. See what happens. Don’t let the past dictate your future.”
But there are always reservations when diving into a new relationship that can ultimately break your heart. Sugar has been hurt in the past and doesn’t want to experience the pain again, and Z has his own secrets about a past relationship that haunt him in a way that may ultimately ruin what is between them.
Boyfriend Bargain was much more emotional than I expected. The serious situations are heartbreaking, and the guilt and regret make you ache. The pain Z and Sugar go through both individually and together is overwhelming and there is a lot of healing and growth for both characters. Their journey to coupledom is rocky but I loved watching them open up as they reveal their vulnerabilities and insecurities. It makes them real and relatable, and I really felt what both of them were experiencing. However, the pain is worth it in the end because these two really are meant to be together, and I adored them!
“I’ll follow him to the ends of the earth. If he goes through darkness, I’ll go with him and bring him back out every time.”
The secondary characters were all really well done. From the amazing friends to the hateful rivals, each one plays such an important role in the story. I really hope we get Eric and Julia’s story, and more of Sugar and Z’s other friends!
Overall, Boyfriend Bargain was an entertaining love story that is easy to love and hard to forget. I definitely recommend it to all who like college sports romances and fake relationships.
This is my first Ilsa Madden-Mills book and I was excited to try her work.
The characters of Sugar and Zack were multi-dimensonal, interesting, and a little different than what I expected.
The story also didn’t follow the typical relationship of convenience plot, which I appreciated. I connected with the story and characters in some sections and less so in others. The book deals with some heavy issues for both Sugar and Zack which occasionally felt like a bit much, but I liked them together.
The secondary characters, Sugar and Zack’s friends, added a lot of fun, humor, and even some drama to the story. I am looking forward to seeing who the next book will be about!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.